Syracuse homecoming for Carter-Williams, who will not play

Michael Carter-Williams talked Monday about going back to Syracuse, seeing all his old fans.

"It's just nice to be home," the 76ers point guard said of Tuesday's exhibition game against the New York Knicks at the Carrier Dome.

It would be even nicer if he could play.

Carter-Williams and the Sixers' other former Syracuse standout, Jerami Grant, will miss the game because of injuries.

Grant, a rookie forward, has been sidelined since the second day of training because of dehydration and a lingering sprained right ankle. Carter-Williams had surgery on May 6 to repair the labrum in his right shoulder. He has not been cleared to participate in full-contact scrimmages.

The game had been scheduled to feature Carter-Williams and Grant against former Orange great Carmelo Anthony of the Knicks.

"Yeah, I wish I would be able to play," Carter-Williams said. "Maybe I will do a little layup line. But I wish I was out there playing."

Carter-Williams has been sidelined for five months. The normal recovery time for a torn labrum usually is two to four months. But that doesn't take into account pro athletes, whose bodies often take a beating. Carter-Williams said Monday that his doctor initially told him that his recovery time would be six to nine months.

Last season's rookie of the year will return in the second week of the regular season if he's out for six months. He would return in February if he had to sit out for nine months.

But Carter-Williams insisted he feels good, despite no definite timetable for his return.

"I'm plenty ahead of schedule," he said. "I feel great. So like I said, I wish I was playing.

"If it was up to me, I would be out there. I want to be out there, and I feel unbelievable. I feel awesome."

Rookie forward Ronald Roberts (left quadriceps strain) and shooting guard Hollis Thompson (corneal abrasion in left eye) did not practice Tuesday. Roberts made the trip to Syracuse and will be a game-time decision. Thompson remained in Philadelphia.

Guard Jason Richardson has been sidelined with a knee injury since January 2013. Although he hasn't been cleared to scrimmage, coach Brett Brown uses the 14-year veteran as a source of motivation for his young team. Brown's latest example came Tuesday. He showed the team a four-minute video of Richardson in action.

"I hope you guys know who is in this room because here he is," Brown told the Sixers. "This is a two-time dunk competition champion, all-rookie team [selection]. . . .

"I'm proud of Jason Richardson. I get flashbacks of what he was and how hard a guard he was."

The Sixers have promoted Delaware 87ers coach Rod Baker to their front office as a scout. The 87ers are the Sixers' NBA Development League team.